Kristi Montgomery Receives First Senior Scotland Call-Up

Kristi Montgomery has been handed her first senior Scotland call-up as Sebastien Pocognoli reshapes his squad for a demanding Nations League schedule.

The Blackburn Rovers midfielder, promoted from the Under-21s, steps into the group after Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean withdrew. Scotland face Slovenia twice, as well as Switzerland and North Macedonia, in a run that will test both depth and nerve.

At 22, Montgomery has quietly become a constant for Tony Mowbray’s Blackburn side, starting all eight of their Championship matches this season. That consistency has caught the eye of Pocognoli, who is not afraid to lean on form rather than reputation.

Absentees and Their Impact

Tierney and McLean leave a sizeable hole. Between them, the Celtic defender and the Norwich midfielder have amassed 119 caps, the kind of experience managers usually cling to in competitive windows. They join an established core already missing: Scott McTominay, Che Adams and Lawrence Shankland were all unavailable before Pocognoli named his squad.

New Faces

So the door has opened. Montgomery becomes the eighth uncapped player in a 27-strong group, part of a new wave that includes Luke Graham, Robbie Ure, Luis Binks, Colby Donovan, Jon McCracken, Josh McPake and Stephen Welsh. It is a bold list, heavy on potential and light on international mileage.

There is also a familiar feel to some of the names returning. Oli McBurnie, Scott Bain, Kieron Bowie, Josh Doig, Lennon Miller and James Wilson are all recalled, adding a layer of know-how around the newcomers. Napoli midfielder Billy Gilmour is back as well, a significant boost after injury ruled him out of the World Cup.

Those Omitted

Not everyone makes the cut. Dominic Hyam, Lyndon Dykes, George Hirst, Grant Hanley, Anthony Ralston and Ross Stewart are among those overlooked as Pocognoli stamps his authority on his first squad. Manchester United teenager Tyler Fletcher, who filled in for Gilmour during the USA trip, drops back to the Under-21s.

For Montgomery, though, this camp changes everything. From Under-21 regular to full international contender in a single phone call, she now walks into a Scotland midfield in transition, with a chance to claim a place that might not be given back easily.